Sidelined or Spotlighted? The Experience of Women in Media with Sabeen Ahmad

Written By RaiseHER Community

This week, we’re spotlighting the crazy-but-true realities for women journalists—spoiler: it’s not all glitz and glamour. From online harassment to the ever-present glass ceiling, the barriers are real, but so is the bravery of women breaking them down.

You’ve seen the stories: Gretchen Carlson and Megyn Kelly calling out harassment, Maria Ressa fighting online abuse, and Lisa LaFlamme facing ageism for simply going grey. And they’re not alone. With courage and solidarity, women in media are stepping up to address sexism, discrimination, and harassment. This week, we had the pleasure of talking to Sabeen Ahmad, a weather and community anchor with CTV and in-game host for the SK Roughriders. Right here in our hometown, Sabeen’s working to reshape this industry—bold, unapologetic, and not backing down.

The Stark Reality

Despite recent strides, the numbers speak loud and clear: women are still underrepresented in media. Globally, they make up only 37% of reporters, with just 29% of quotes in Canadian news coming from women sources. Not to mention, women in senior management positions are nearly nonexistent in comparison. Sure, some newsrooms are making progress—BBC’s 50:50 Project is a win, aiming to balance their gender representation—but we’re still far from real equality.

And it’s not just about representation. The everyday sexism women face in media is relentless. Women are expected to follow ridiculous standards that often have nothing to do with their skills and everything to do with how they look or act. Worse yet, 27% of women believe they’ve missed out on opportunities simply because of their gender. And in the age of social media? It’s brutal. Women journalists are subject to smear campaigns, threats, and harassment at rates that dwarf those faced by men. The goal? Silence. But if there’s one thing these trolls don’t understand, it’s that these women aren’t going anywhere.

Real Action Starts with Us

Together, we can create a media landscape that doesn’t just allow women to have a voice but amplifies it.

Thanks for joining us on this wild ride of stats, stories, and inspiration. Let’s make the world less scary for the women who bring us the news. Stay tuned, Scaries Fam, because this fight is just getting started.

RaiseHER Community
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